Adapter for sand trap



Nov. 24, 1959 2,914,351-

J. A. LucAs ADAPTER FOR SAND TRAP Filed Sept. 25, 1957 INVENTOR. IJOHN A. LUCAS LOIBYJMM ATTORNY United States Patent Ofiice 2,914,351 Patented Nov. 24, 1959 ADAPTER FOR SAND TRAP John A. Lucas, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to The Prime Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 25, 1957, Serial No. 686,214

3 Claims. (Cl. 291-11) This invention relates to sanders for locomotives and the like and more particularly to an improved form of sand trap nozzle for use with such sanders.

Sanders for locomotives include a sand trap for receiving sand from a sand dome or supply hopper and discharging it through a delivery pipe to the rails adjacent the wheels. In the older so-called two-line sanding system the restricted sanding air enters the sand trap through the nozzle. The full blast clean-out air enters the sand trap through a separate port. Each is connected to a control valve by two separate air lines. In the one-line system both the clean-out blast and the sanding air enter the trap through the nozzle which is connected to the control valve by a single air line. Thus two different types of sand traps have therefore been required.

It is the primary object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved nozzle for a sand trap which will permit the same style and design of sand trap to be used with a one-line or a two-line system.

This improved nozzle has a threaded portion which threads into the nozzle opening of a standard one-line sand trap and two inlet ports leading from the exterior of the nozzle to its interior passageway and outlet. Both inlet ports are internally threaded to connect with the two air pressure pipes of a two-line system. One of such inlet ports has a restricting orifice, and such port is connected to the air line from sanding air outlet of the control valve. Thus air under pressure in the two lines leading from the control valve is led to a single nozzle and divided into reduced volume sanding air and full volume blast cleaning air, such single nozzle being usable in the one-line system type of sand trap.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the detailed description which follows and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is a vertical longitudinal section through a sand trap embodying the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the illustrated sand trap is of the standard type employed on locomotives and the like using a one-line sanding system. It has a customary internally threaded port 12 in which a sand trap nozzle 14 is threadedly secured. As is standard practise, a tube 16, replaceable in such nozzle, ex-

tends into the interior of the sand trap. be locked in place by a nut 18.

The nozzle 14 has an enlarged head 20 and a central passage 22 extends through such head and nozzle, into the tube 16. A counterbore in the outer end of such passage provides a shoulder in which is removably positioned an orifice plug 24 for metering the sanding air. Such counterbore is internally tapped to receive an air line 26 communicating with a control valve (not shown). A lateral port 28 in the head portion 20 communicates with the passageway 22 at a point inward of the plug 24. Such port is threaded for connection to an air line 43.

The nozzle 14 is thus connectable to the two lines of a two-line sanding system using the usual control valve. Air supplied by air line 26 is metered for sanding operation. Air supplied by air line 30 is unrestricted and supplies a full clean out blast to the trap through the tube 16.

The double port nozzle 14 makes it possible therefore to utilize a one-line sand trap in either the one-line or two-line systems, thus eliminating the need for the special two-line trap and cutting down the parts inventory for railroads having both one-line and twoline system locomotives.

I claim:

1. A sand trap nozzle adapted for connection to a sand trap having a passageway therein through which air is delivered to the said trap, a first inlet port in said nozzle communicating with said passageway and adapted for connection to an air line, a second inlet port in said body communicating with said passageway and adapted for connection to a separate air line, said ports communicating with said passageway at spaced points along said passageway, and a flow restricting orifice between one of said ports and said passageway upstream of the point at which said one port communicates with said passageway.

2. A sand trap nozzle according to claim 1 in which said passageway extends along the longitudinal axis of said nozzle, said first port is in the outer end of said nozzle and coaxial with said passageway, and the axis of said second port is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said passageway.

3. A sand trap nozzle having an externally threaded portion adapted for connection in the threaded port of a standard one-line sand trap, a longitudinal passageway extending through said nozzle, a counterbore at the outer end of said passageway through which air enters said nozzle forming a shoulder, an orifice plug threaded into the outer end of said passageway up against said shoulder, a lateral opening in said nozzle communicating with said passageway downstream of said plug.

The nozzle may References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 772,436 Shields Oct. 18, 1904 

